It really comes back to the managers utilising him properly. He is primarily put down as a LW. He is better deployed on the left even though he is truly two-footed. In reality Monty and his u21 manager at Newcastle (now assistant at Sparta) played him properly and the assistant seems to be having some affect on the main manager.
As Monty said he is a CF playing as RW. He needs to be free to roam and play almost as an inside right (or inside left or CF). A front three of Irankunda, Toure and Kuol, all quick, all free to swap positions with Irvine making late runs into the back would scare a lot of teams, including the US with Robinson being so one-footed, slow to turn and a temper. Just tell Irankunda if he is getting hacked that is part of the plan.